Intro to buying content in Apple School Manager

Apple School Manager and your mobile device management (MDM) solution work together so your institution can buy content in volume, assign them to devices or users, and then install and update them wirelessly, even if the App Store is disabled.

You can also revoke and reassign apps to different devices and users, so your institution retains full ownership and control of purchased apps. You can assign the apps you buy through Apple School Manager to any devices or users in any country where the app is available from the App Store in that country.

Note: Books purchased through Apple School Manager or volume purchasing can be distributed through managed book distribution, but they can’t be revoked and reassigned.

Type of app or book

Can be assigned to iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, and Mac

Can be assigned to users

Custom app

Yes

Yes

Custom book

Yes

No

Free or paid apps purchased through Apple School Manager or Apple Business Manager

Yes

(iOS 9 or later)

(iPadOS 13.1 or later)

(OS X 10.11 or later)

Yes

(iOS 7 or later)

(iPadOS 13.1 or later)

(OS X 10.9 or later)

Free or paid books purchased through Apple School Manager or Apple Business Manager

No

Yes

The App Store and Apple Books both feature thousands of apps and books for education. Apple School Manager gives institutions a simple way to buy content in an area called Apps and Books. When you buy apps there, you can access special pricing for 20 or more copies if you’re an eligible education institution—either an institution for grades K–12 (or their districts), or one for higher education if the institution is accredited and grants degrees. For books, special pricing is not available.